Suspended ceiling construction



June 7, 1932. F. M. VENZIE SUSPENDED CEILING CONSTRUCTION Filed April18, 1931 INVENTOR. f'ms'az'mc/r/ lkavz/g A TTORNE Y.

Patented June 7, 1932 PATENT OFFICE FREDERICK M. VENZIE, OFPHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA SUSPENDED 0mm CONSTRUCTION Application filedApril 18,

This invention, stated in its broadest terms, relates to a buildingconstruction and has more particular reference to a building structureemploying a suspended ceiling formed of precast slabs of cementitiousmaterial such as is disclosed in my co-pending patent application SerialN 0. 525,064, filed March 25, 1931.

As disclosed in my said application for Letters Patent, the precastceiling slabs are suspended from a common carrier as a plastererschannel. Practice dictates that under certain conditions in buildingconstruction it is not suitable or advisable to make use of plastererschannels.

The leading object of the present invention is to make use of existingfireproofing floor supporting members as I find them in a buildingconstruction for the suspension of pre cast ceiling slabs ofcementitious material and to this end to make use of conventional floormembers including steel I-beams for the support of the ceiling slabs.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of abuilding construction in which there is first erected a scaffold beneaththe ceiling slabs to be suspended and to make use of the steel lI-beamssupporting a fireproofing fioor for the suspension of the ceiling slabsby means of metal clips.

A still further object of the present inven tion resides in theprovision of a suspended ceiling construction of precast slabs ofcementitious material which may be readily clipped with respect to steelI-beams by unskilled labor.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a metallic clipof novel construction especially designed for attachment to steelI-beams for the suspension of precast ceiling slabs of fireproofingmaterial.

Other and further objects of the present invention reside in theprovision of general details of construction and in the arrange ment,connection, and combination of parts for attaining the results sought bythe foregoing objects in an expeditious and inexpensive manner byunskilled labor.

The invention consists of the novel con- 1931. Serial No. 531,071.

struction hereinafter described and finally claimed. The nature,characteristic features and scope of the invention will be more fullyunderstood from the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing forming part hereof, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view, partly in elevation and partly in section,illustrating a fireproofing floor, supported upon steel I-beamsfromwhich I-beams are suspended by means of metal clips precast ceilingslabs of fireproofing material;

Fig. 2 is a view in section taken upon the line 22 of Fig. 1; 65

Fig. 3 is a view in section taken upon the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a View in perspective ofan especially designed metal clip forceiling slab suspension. 70

For the purpose of illustrating my invention I have shown in theaccompanying drawing one form thereof which is at present preferred byme, since the same has been found in practice to give satisfactory andreliable results, although it is to be understood that the variousinstrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variouslyarranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to theprecise arrangement and organization of the instrumentalities as hereinshown and described.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral 10 designatesa floor of fireproofing material which may or may not be reinforced, asdesired. The fireproofing flooring 10 is supported upon steel I-beams 11according to common practice. I make use of'these steel I-beams as Ifind them in a building construction to support precast ceiling slabs 12of cementitious material. These ceiling slabs 12 may be of any desiredconfiguration and may be of any suitable fireproofing material and maybe reinforced or not, as is desired. These ceiling slabs are ar- 9ranged end to end, as shown in Fig. 2, and may have a rabbetedconnection 13 or not as desired. While-I have in mind suspending theprecast ceiling slabs 12 from the steel I-beams 11 in various ways,practice dictates that the arrangement of clips shown in the drawingserves to provide an efiicient, sim ple, and comparatively inexpensivearrangement of parts whereby unskilled labor may .rapidly work from ascaffold beneath the floor members to position the ceiling slabs.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the referencenumeral 14 designates an elongated metal plate having struck outtherefrom and extended in opposed relation a plurality of spaced fingersl5. and 16. The upper fingers 15 are adapted to engage the uppersurfaces of abutting ceiling slabs and the lower fingers 16 are arrangedto engage in the slotted portions 17 of the slabs 12, as best seen inFig. 2.

The upper fingers 15 of adjacent metal clips are also adapted to beengaged by the opposed split feet 18 of a hanger about to be described.Each hanger comprises a. onepiece metal stamping, as best seen in Fig.4, and consists of a split body 19 from which the split feet areextended in opposed relation. The upper end of the body 19 has extendedtherefrom at right angles thereto a plate 20 which is doubled over uponitself and extended in a direction first toward the split body 19 andthereafter extended horizontally in a direction away from the split bodyto form a pair of parallel prongs 21. Between the prongs 21 and theplate 20 there is thus provided a slot 22 for engaging over the lowerflange of an I-beam 11, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. In this position ofparts the fingers 21 are doubled over upon the flange of the I-beam tosecurely clamp the parts together and thus suspend a ceiling slab.

Vhile the above description has been restricted to steel I-beams,obviously other fireproofing floor supporting metallic members havingflanges may be satisfactorily employed. Again, while a specific formofclip for suspending the ceiling slabs with respect to the floorsupporting mediumshas been described, obviously other forms of metal orthe upper end of which is provided with a fiat horizontal plate doubledunder upon it self and terminating in a pair of elongated fingers forfloor beam flange engagement, there being a grooved portion between saidplate and elongated fingers.

2. A metal clip of the character stated comprising an integral structureformed from a single blank consisting of a split vertical body the lowerend of which is provided with oppositely, disposed split horizontalfingers arranged in two planes for ceiling slab clip engagement, and theupper end of which is provided with a flat horizontal plate doubledunder upon itself and terminating in a pair of elongated fingers forfloor beam flange engagement, there being a grooved portion between saidplate and elongated fingers.

FREDERICK M. VENZIE.

wire clips may be employed for suspension 7 purposes, it being mypurpose to suspend from metal floor supports ceiling slabs of precastfireproofing material.

I am aware that the. invention may be embodied in other specific formswithout departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and Itherefore desire the present embodiment to be considered in all respectsas illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appendedclaims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope ofthe invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A metal clip of. the character stated comprising an integralstructure formed from a single blank consisting of a split ver-.

tical body the lower end of which is provided with oppositely disposedsplit horizontal fingers for ceiling slab clip engagement, and

